Jim Crow Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Before the Movie:

What do you think “separate but equal” means? (Tap prior knowledge)

What do you know about segregation? (Tap prior knowledge)

During the Movie (Pause Points):

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 2:35: How was “separate but equal” not equal? (Explain)

Timecode 4:42: How was life different in the North for African Americans? How was it the same? (Compare and contrast)

Timecode 6:30: How did Harry Truman differ from prior Presidents in terms of civil rights? (Compare and contrast)

Timecode 7:25: Why was Brown vs. the Board of Education considered a landmark ruling? (Identify cause and effect)

After the Movie:

Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to the Jim Crow topic. (Make connections)

How did the establishment of the NAACP help change the lives of African Americans? (Apply new knowledge)

In what ways do we continue to see racial inequality and racism today? (Reflect)

BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the Jim Crow topic page to your class. Then show the movie once through without pausing. Watch it again, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.